DAYA TOPPLE THE LEAGUE LEADERS IN A PULSATING GAME

The visitors started well and soon had the Daya defence in some trouble, fortunately their finishing did not match the build up. Jaime had to deal with a fierce shot from Esportiva on five minutes, getting down well to smother the shot. Day weathered this early storm and were now back in the match. The game was being played at a frenetic pace now with tackles flying in and physical challenges the norm. On fifteen minutes a free kick from distance flew just over the bar giving the home side a scare.

Minutes later Daya created a good opportunity from a free kick but the shot was wide of the target. It was a good competitive game with the home side not being at all overawed by their opponents lofty position in the league. Jaime had to be alert on twenty minutes, again making a smart save from another free kick. From a miss hit corner on thirty two minutes Daya just managed to scramble the ball away with the Esportiva players claiming the ball had crossed the line ! It was still end to end stuff all the way through to the break and it had been a thoroughly entertaining first forty five minutes.

The second period started with the visitors attacking at pace and Jaime needed two goes at holding on to a fierce shot. The game turned on fifty minutes when Daya were awarded a penalty. Jose A took the kick but his shot was well saved but Branlio followed up and opened the scoring for Daya. Daya’s second goal came on fifty three minutes and was an absolute beauty. Jose A took a free kick from distance floating a great ball into the box where Branlio met it with a great header giving the keeper no chance.

Branlio’s hat trick came on fifty eight minutes meaning Daya had scored three goals in an eight minute period, leaving their opponents bewildered. In the sixty third minute both teams made a number of substitutions and the visitors had a great opportunity of pulling a goal back on sixty eight minutes but a fantastic block from a Daya defender saved the day.

Daya gave away a silly penalty on seventy minutes that was thumped home for a 3-1 score line. Now the visitors had their tails up but surely it was all over bar the shouting as the home side seemed well in control. The visitors did have the ball in the net on seventy five minutes but had it ruled out for a foul on Jaime in goal.

The game became poised on a knife edge when a second penalty for the visitors was thumped home. This penalty should never have been awarded as the ball had gone well out of play for a Daya throw beforehand. So a somewhat nervy Daya saw out the remaining ten minutes for a fantastic 3-2 result.

The referee had a poor game but why oh why in this standard of football are linesman not mandatory. If there had been linesman I am sure two of the three penalties would not have been given.

Both sets of players must be congratulated for putting on the performance they did, their fitness levels were astonishing given the pace of the game. Man of the Match Branlio for his superb hat trick. Coaches Jesus and Paco will have a good weekend following this result.